How to Show Animal Kindness

How to Show Animal Kindness
By Francine Larson

Recently, we had two additions to our family. Two of our four daughters adopted a dog. Everyone in the family has one or two dogs, cats, rabbits and even a horse. Our daughters grew up with horses, dogs, cats, rabbits, and even ducks. So this love of animals stayed with them and now their children love animals, too.

I think animals give more to us that we could possible realize. First of all, they give unconditional love. It doesn't matter how we look or what the world thinks, they love us. It has been proven that owning an animal lowers blood pressure. I even read about a little boy that could not learn to read until a dog was allowed to sit with him.

Dogs may not speak but they understand what you are talking about and even when you are not feeling up to par. What a blessing they are!

Here are a few tips and activities on being kind to animals from the humane society of the United States:

Get the word out: Educate your friends, family and teachers about cruelty and its connection to human violence by sharing information and materials from The Humane Society of the United States at http://www.hsus.org.

Start an animal protection club at your school. Visit http://www.humaneteen.org/?q=node/44. View the activities that teens are doing for animals and start a club similar.

Make the 'Net' work: If you find an Internet site that promotes animal abuse, urge the service provider that hosts the website to remove it immediately. You can find the address of the website provider at networksolutions.org.

Keep a lookout: If you see a stray or injured animal, contact your local animal care and control agency or the police. Provide a description of the animal and the location.

Be a responsible pet owner: Don't let your cats and dogs roam. Cats are safest indoors. When outdoors, dogs should be walked on a leash or supervised in a fenced yard. It's up to you to keep your pets safe and out of harm's way.

http://www.care2.com teaches animal kindness and also has places you can click for helping animals.

I think I'll go give Sunny a hug right now.

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Pet Names - Cool Names For Your Dog, Cat, Hamster Or Other Pet

Pet Names - Cool Names For Your Dog, Cat, Hamster Or Other Pet
By Jennifer Manning

So you've adopted or purchased a new pet -- a dog, cat, hamster, fish, snake, parakeet or maybe a hermit crab. What's next? Of course you'll need to provide a good home -- cage, aquarium, etc., and all the necessary supplies. But there's still something missing -- your pet will need a good name.

Maybe you're drawing a blank when it comes to naming ideas. Or maybe you're overwhelmed by the sheer number of possible names. Hopefully this article will give you some ideas if you're stuck, and give you a little direction if you're feeling overwhelmed.

What color or colors is your pet? Many people like to name their pet based on coloring.

Names for a black pet -- Midnight, Blackie, Jet, Inky, Shadow, Ebony, Pepper, Charcoal or Char

Is your pet white? Here are some possibilities -- Snowy, Snowflake, Snowball, Frosty, Ice, Sugar, Winter, Ivory

Is your pet brown? Here are some suggestions -- Brownie, Eartha, Clay, Coffee, Java, Sienna, Bear, Cub

Is your pet multi--colored? Try these -- Patches, Freckles, Autumn, Calico or Callie, Confetti

Another factor to consider when trying to come up with a name is your pet's personality or behavior. Here are some suggestions:

The pet that likes to jump -- Cricket, Grasshopper, Hopper, Kanga or Roo

The aggressive or Alpha animal -- Bandit, Bandito, Sergeant, Chief, Cleopatra or Cleo, Blanche, Queen or Queenie, King, Prince, Princess

Dog names taken from the entertainment field:

Benji -- the title character of a series of movies.

Lassie -- the title character of a television series and movies.

Astro -- the family dog in the television show - the Jetsons.

Tramp -- the lead male dog character in Disney's "Lady and the Tramp" movie.

Lady -- the lead female dog character in Disney's "Lady and the Tramp" movie.

Snoopy -- the dog character in the "Peanuts" comics and movies.

Pluto -- famous "Walt Disney" dog.

Goofy -- famous "Walt Disney" dog.

Dynomutt -- a cartoon superhero dog.

Bruno -- the dog character in the Disney movie - "Cinderella."

Cat names taken from the entertainment field:

Felix -- the title character of comic strips and films.

Garfield -- the title character of comic strips, television and movies.

Simba -- the main lion character in Disney's "The Lion King" movie.

Mufasa -- Simba's Father in Disney's "The Lion King" movie.

Sarabi -- Simba's Mother in Disney's "The Lion King" movie.

Scar -- the villainous lion in Disney's "The Lion King" movie.

Tom -- The cat in the "Tom and Jerry" cartoons and comics.

Sylvester -- The cat in the "Sylvester and Tweety" cartoons.

Tigger -- The tiger character in the "Winnie the Pooh" books and movies.

Rodent, Hamster or Mouse names taken from the entertainment field:

Fievel -- the lead mouse character in Disney's "American Tail" movies.

Bernard -- A major mouse character in Disney's "The Rescuers."

Mickey -- Disney's comic and movie star male mouse.

Minnie -- Disney's comic and movie star female mouse.

Jerry -- The mouse character in the "Tom and Jerry" cartoons.

Mighty Mouse -- A mouse superhero in comics and film.

Remy -- the lead mouse character in Disney's "Ratatouille."

Emile -- Remy's brother from the Disney "Ratatouille" movie.

Django -- Remy's Father from the Disney "Ratatouille" movie

Roddy -- the lead mouse character in the movie "Flushed Away."

Sid -- the sewer rat character in the movie "Flushed Away. "

Rita -- the scavenger rat in the movie "Flushed Away. "

I know that I haven't covered all types of pets that people have, but hopefully I've given you at least a little inspiration in your journey for the perfect pet name.

Get even more Pet Names at http://www.petcarejournal.com - a website designed to provide you with pet care articles and resources that will help you get the most out of your pet keeping experience, no matter what type of pet you own.

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Taking Proper Care of Your Cat

Taking Proper Care of Your Cat
By Mikael Rieck

There are a lot of different aspects to taking care of cats that everyone should probably learn about before bringing home a new cat. One of the most important aspects of taking care of any cat is the type of diet your cat has. Nutrition and the type of food your cat eats will determine how long your cat's life span is. There are tons of different brands and tons of different types that all claim to be the healthiest choice for your cat. You should do a little research and make sure that none of the companies you are considering have had any type of recalls lately. Also if you aren't sure which one is truly the healthiest you should contact your vet who can help you pick the best brand for your kitty. The vet can also give you instructions about how much to feed your cat.

It's extremely important to make sure that you avoid overfeeding your cat. By overfeeding your cat you may cause your cat to gain a lot of weight. This weight gain can eventually lead to your cat being very obese and unhealthy. This can shorten your cat's life span and end up being fatal to your beloved pet. Cats don't typically need the same kind of exercise that dogs do. They tend to get their exercise throughout the day around the house.

Grooming is another essential to taking proper care of your pet cat. You should divide up the grooming duties between those that need to be done daily, and those you can do weekly. Brushing out your cat's loose hair is something you should probably do daily as this will also improve the shine of your cat's coat. You should also check your cat for fleas and ticks regularly while playing with them and petting on them. Make sure you get the right type of shampoo to wash your cat in as well. You may want to sport some elbow high rubber type gloves when washing your cat to avoid getting scratched.

While cats are private animals that don't exactly do back flips to get your attention, that doesn't mean you should never play with your cat and spend time with him. Make a little time each day just to sit down and pet your cat or get out his favorite toy and just play with him. As stated earlier this is the perfect time to check and make sure he or she doesn't have any ticks or fleas as well.

Having a cat for a pet is a wonderful experience that millions all over the world enjoy every single day. If you are looking for a pet that doesn't require your constant attention, yet you can still cuddle and pet, a cat is the perfect pet for you. Make sure that if you have any questions you call your vet and ask so that you can be sure you are providing your pet cat with all the care and attention he or she needs. Your cat isn't simply an animal that sits around the house; he or she is now another member of your own family.

The Author is the owner of the pet health and insurance site named PetInsurancePro.com where he shares a lot more information on pet health, pet fitness and pet longevity. Read the latest article on Insurance for a VIP Pet

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What You Should Before You Adopt a Pet

What You Should Before You Adopt a Pet
By Dave Horvath

Shelters also have healthy animals and they are not expensive. Adoption counselors in the shelter help owners in arriving at a decision on pets. Shelter adoption fees are usually much less than purchasing a pet at a store or breeder. And your new pet is more likely to be vaccinated, de-wormed, and spayed or neutered. Shelter pets are a bargain. For an pet adoption fee between $60 and $100, you can adopt an animal that would cost several hundred dollars through other means.

Animal shelters and pet adoption centers do their best to accommodate dog rescues, and look forward to all dog adoptions. Every time a dog is adopted, one more dog is saved from possible euthanasia. Animal Control adoption regulations require that all currently owned pets be up-to-date on rabies vaccinations and animal licensing. Landlord approval is needed for tenants of rental properties. Animal lovers that we are, we knew that there must be a better way! In the beginning, we had a very small adoption fee, very few requirements for adopting, and our pets had virtually no vet care prior to adoption.

Pet adoption can be an informal or formal arrangement. Some owners will post adverts about pets to a good home, where by they just pass on responsibility to someone else, creating an informal adoption process. Pet adoption should always be something that people should consider when looking for a new pet. A quick look around the numerous animal shelters will uncover dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, in fact any animal that you can think. Pet adoption allows you to legally own a dog in an easy manner. Lots of wonderful, beautiful puppies and dogs are wanting of deserving pet owners to adopt them and give them a home to enjoy.

Shelter pets are a bargain. For an pet adoption fee between $60 and $100, you can adopt an animal that would cost several hundred dollars through other means. Shelters and rescue organizations agree that black cats are the last ones chosen from any litter. We can't understand it - they are shiny, sleek awesome companions! Shelters also have healthy animals and they are not expensive. Adoption counselors in the shelter help owners in arriving at a decision on pets.

Rescue groups are also a good source for information about a specific breed and can give you information about reputable breeders if you desire. Rescues are very careful to make sure their adoptable dogs and cats go to the right homes. Each organization has its own application and screening process for potential adopters.

For more information check out Pet Adoption How-to-Guide or Pet Adoption What You Need To Know.

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Pet People Are Pet Lovers

Pet People Are Pet Lovers
By Merry Rosenfield

When I was a kid, almost everyone had a pet dog in my neighborhood. We didn't worry much about barking, and if you stepped in dog droppings, you got laughed at for not paying attention!

This was the 1950s, before the era when dog lovers marched around with plastic baggies ready to pick up their pet's little gifts to take home. I don't think it's a bad idea to clean up after your pets, but at least dog poo is biodegradable, unlike the plastic bags they get wrapped in for the trash.

Looking a little more to the future, and I mean to the environment of all the animals, pets plants and people that will come after we're pushing up the daisies might not be a bad idea. Pet people are generally concerned about the world we live in- they are at least looking beyond their own survival to that of their beloved pets.

I've always been a pet lover, and I would extend that to being an animal lover, regardless of origin, size or even species. To me, the best part of science class in grade school was examining a drop of pond water for those hundreds or maybe millions of fascinating microorganisms swimming around.

These days we know that the measure of a healthy pond or any body of water is the number of microorganisms surviving there, and in what ratio. I know I'm sounding ancient when I say this, but back when I was a kid I never heard of polluted water, ponds or rivers you couldn't swim or play in.

My summer days were spent at the local creek in Winton Woods in Ohio, watching crayfish back under rocks and salamanders slither through the murky water. I doubt I paid any heed to washing my hands before munching on an apple.

If my granddaughter were similarly occupied, (and I hope she will be soon- she's only 4 now) I'd be after her to wash up carefully with good old soap and water.

Some things that pet lovers today may want to think about are:

• Recycling their trash

• Coming up with an alternative to collecting their dog's leavings in plastic bags

• Eating less meat

That last one may not be too popular, but industrial farming is one of the biggest polluters out there. And although I'm not a strict vegetarian (I eat some eggs, dairy, and the occasional piece of fish or chicken) I am against the brutal way that farm animals are raised and slaughtered.

Besides, it's said there are health benefits to eating less meat. Who can argue with that! Some of my favorite recipes are meat free gourmet concoctions that I've either made up myself or gotten from one of my favorite vegan cookbooks.

I know that pet people love their pets, but it's easy to be short-sighted about our own habits. You can always make a few changes and see how it goes. And you know future inhabitants of this beautiful planet (animals and people) will benefit from your selflessness. If you believe in future lives, you'll have yourself to thank!

Merry Rosenfield, co-owner of themagiczoo.com loves animals and has created a blog for her fellow pet lovers. If you are a dog lover, be sure you are taking care of yourself as well as your pooch. Merry has created oodles of wonderful silver animal designs for her fellow pet lovers. One of Merry's favorites is cooking vegan style and she highly recommends you give it a try.

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Naming Your Pet

Naming Your Pet
By Joseph Devine

An animal's name is an important part of their life. It stays with them from the time they are a young animal to an adult. Just like a human's name, a pet needs a good name. The difference being that with children, the name shouldn't embarrass the child. With pets, the name shouldn't embarrass the owner.

The first thing to keep in mind is that an animal needs a name that is easily recognized. Animals respond best to names with one or two syllables best. So, a dog is less likely to respond to "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious" than "Super." It is also a good idea to name the animal something that is easy to call out. In addition, you should name the animal something that isn't embarrassing to yell. For example, if you feel that yelling out the name "Anthracite" for a black dog, don't name the dog "Anthracite."

When naming a new dog, be sure not to give the dog a name that sounds like standard commands. This means that naming a dog "Joe" is not a good idea if you ever anticipate having to tell the dog "no." Naming a goofy dog "Clown" isn't a good idea if the dog might ever be told "down." The same goes for a dog named "Zit" and the command "Sit." If the name you choose happens to rhyme with a common command, choosing alternative commands might be a good idea.

Some people like to give their dogs really long, but creative, names. While these names are cute and creative, they frequently lead to a nickname that the dog will learn rather than the long name. The nickname might ruin the affect of the long name so it might not be a good idea to give the dog a huge name.

The country of origin for the animal or animal's breed can be helpful for naming a pet. If your pet happens to have been native to Ireland, giving the dog an Irish name can be a good idea. The same goes for animals from Germany, France, and Scotland. The same principle can be applied to an animal from anywhere.
Personality can be a huge key for a pet's name. For this reason, waiting a few days to name the pet is never a bad idea. Also, animals grow. Naming a kitten "Kitten" is cute and makes sense until the kitten grows up.

For more information on pets, please visit http://www.atlantaveterinarianclinics.com Joseph Devine Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine